KEY ACTIVITIES FOR 2023-24 SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A SKILLED AND DIVERSE WORKFORCE

Lantra has always worked to identify skills needs and gaps and ensure skills policies and provision help to meet sector needs. However, as we move into 2023/24, the landscape in which we will be doing so is uncertain and the work of many of our key partner organisations are under review. Lantra will continue to be fully embedded in key skills groups, committees and working groups, ensuring we are ideally placed to respond to new developments and challenges as they arise. We will ensure we remain flexible in our outlook, whilst keeping focussed on the aims and objectives of each of the groups we support. Our ‘conversations with industry’ continue to be integral to successful work plan evolution and delivery, helping to ensure that we are responsive to the changing needs of the sector.

The apprenticeship system is also changing to ensure it is responsive to the opportunities and challenges created by changes to how we work. We will work to ensure the in depth review of vocational qualifications and training within this area is informed and led by industry, with direct involvement of key employers and employees. Although SDS will be leading this work. we will help support the reviews within Agriculture, Conservation and Wildlife Management , Horticulture and Trees and Timber and will ensure that the key sustainability criteria track through to standards and outcomes.

This work will also provide a useful starting point for the identification of the key transferable skills required across different job roles within the Sector. By ensuring key new entrants and apprentices are at the heart of this process, we will ensure that the sector's needs are met, as well as increase awareness and understanding of the business benefits of investing in learning, skills development and training.

We will continue to work with training and education providers to help ensure strong sustainability content, effective industry connections and to promote their courses. Our new online careers resource will also present clearer and more representative pathways for those interested in development and training, with qualification and short course training information linked to each role, as well as signposting to key funding and support organisations. This will be a UK and Ireland site, offering us the opportunity to extend the influence of our careers work across the UK, taking good practice beyond Scotland and recognising the importance of extending and diversifying the pool of potential employees for Scottish businesses.